1990 had started with a holdout, and so would 1991. This time,
new starting quarterback Jim Harbaugh was holed-up, playing golf in nearby
Galena, IL, waiting for a new contract from the team. Harbaugh actually was
contacting reporters in Chicago, reasoning with them so as not to look
money-hungry. Harbaugh's asking price was $1.4 million per season; in 1990 Neal
Anderson was given what he was demanding. Harbaugh's demands were met, and he
signed a two-year deal before camp broke. In '91, the Bears were still on top
of the NFL, at least in popularity if not in the standings. The Saturday Night
Live skit "Da Bears" had people all across the country pledging allegiance to
the team. Chicago made its 3rd trip overseas since 1986 in the preseason, this
time to Berlin to take on the San Francisco 49ers. The trip was relaxing for
the players-but those types of excursions never lend to opening the season in a
prepared fashion. Other distractions were taking away from the team that
August. All-pro left tackle Jim Covert was out with ruptured disks in his back,
and it was not known if he would return to football. Rookie first-round pick
Stan Thomas, a questionable draft pick whom Mike Ditka was stubbornly opposed
to taking at all, had an injured shoulder. All-pro safety Shaun Gayle had a
problem with his leg, and both running backs Anderson and Muster were nursing
sore hamstrings. And to top it all off, the "Refridgerator", William Perry, had
balooned to an astonishing 370 pounds. With all these question marks, who would
have known the team would turn in their most exciting season since 1985.

The season started at home against the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota had been a thorn in the Bears' side among generally weak NFC Central
opponents, beating the Bears in 4 of the last 6 matchups. The game would pit
Bears' rookie tackle Stan Thomas agains Chris Doleman-one of the best
pass-rushers in the game. Chicago was dangerously weak at receiver, with Ron
Morris out and rookie Anthony Morgan starting. No-name receiver Tom Waddle, who
had been cut 4 times by the team, would play the slot receiver position.
Chicago ground it out against the Vikings, and the defense played tough. Just
before halftime, the slow-as molasses but sure-handed Waddle caught a 42-yard
strike from Harbaugh, and Chicago took the lead. The Bears ended up winning
10-6, helped by last-minute heroics from Steve McMichael, who caused a Wade
Wilson interception as Minnesota was driving in the waning moments. The
following week, Chicago travelled to Tampa Bay, and LB John Roper gained player
of the week honors for a two-sack performance as the Bears beat Tampa 21-20. On
September 15th, the World Champion Giants invaded 90-degree Soldier Field in a
game not many thought the Bears could win. Jim Harbaugh hit Wendell Davis on a
75-yard scoring strike, and Neal Anderson scored on a diving, 42-yard TD run,
and the Bears led 20-17 with seconds left. The Giants lined up for a chip-shot
field goal, but it was blocked by none other than the 370-pound
"Refridgerator", clinching the victory over the world champs. The following
week on Monday night, New York's other team, the Jets, came to Chicago.
Observers noted that Chicago was not winning games in '91, but barely squeaking
by. The same would occur on that surreal Monday night.

Despite a 28 completion, 303 yard performance by Jim Harbaugh, and nine-catches
by the clutch Tom Waddle, the Bears trailed the Jets, 13-6 with less than a
minute left. As was beginning to be common in 1991, Chicago couldn't maintain a
solid running game. Fullback Brad Muster had left the game early after
re-aggrevating his hamstring injury. So New York settled in to run out the
clock. Steve McMichael had different plans. He stripped Blair Thomas of the
ball, and Chicago had the ball back in their own territory. Several plays
later, Harbaugh, Waddle, Davis, and Anderson had the team 3rd down and inches
from the Jets' one yard line. The QB attempted a sneak from the shotgun
formation, and was stuffed just short of the goal line. With time for one final
play on fourth down, Harbaugh rifled a pass in the flat to Neal
Anderson....TOUCHDOWN! as time expired. The game went into overtime, and New
York drove down the field to attempt an easy, game winning field goal. Not much
of the crowd had left, despite the situation looking grim. In another freak
twist of fate, the Jets blew the field goal attempt. Fate gave Chicago one more
shot, as time was winding down in the extra period. Several passes later,
Harbaugh hit tight end Cap Boso on a rollout, Boso was driven over the goal
line, popping up with a face full of sod. The Bears had won the game, and
they headed into the locker room full of jubilation....or so they thought. The
officials ruled Boso down at the one-yard line, and the players were called out
of the locker room to get back on the field. Finally, Jim Harbaugh scored on a
sneak, and the Bears had won a game they shouldn't have by the score of 19-13.
The team was 4-0.

After the Monday night madness, the Bears were faced with
playing 1991's Super Bowl teams, Buffalo and Washington, in back-to-back games.
Despite beating both teams statistically, they lost both games on the
scoreboard, and were suddenly 4-2. Then came another 5 game winning streak
featuring a shutout of lowly Green Bay, and a shocker at undefeated New
Orleans. After this streak, the team stood at 9-2, then they lost 2 more to
fall to 9-4. Two more wins brought them back to 11-4, and a season finale
matchup at San Francisco.

The finale by the bay was significant. If the Bears won, they
would finish 12-4 and win the Central for the second year in a row over Detroit
by virtue of a tiebreaker. If they lost, they would finish as the wild-card
team, and may eventually have to travel to Detroit for a rematch in the
Silverdome. The Bears controlled their own destiny, and were facing a 49er team
that did not make the playoffs, and was playing with backup QB Steve Young. The
Monday night audience settled in. This audience was bombarded with live shots
of Wayne Fontes and the Detroit Lions in the Silverdome restaurant, hamming it
up in hopes of a Bears loss. And the Bears did lose, 52-14 in one of their
worst defeats under Mike Ditka. With each Bears mistake, ABC would cut to a
cigar-smoking Fontes, rubbing in the frustration to a national TV audience.
Chicago returned home and hobbled into the wild-card game against the Dallas
Cowboys. Dallas had finished 1-15 just two years earlier, but was loaded with
young talent.

The Bears finished the 1991 season in less-than-spectacular
fashion, losing to the Cowboys 17-13. Chicago had made four trips inside the
Dallas 10-yard line, but came away with only one touchdown. Neal Anderson was
held to 34 yards rushing, the aging offensive and defensive lines looked tired,
and despite the electrifying atmosphere of the 1991 season, many questions
faced the team going in to 1992.

Quote of the Year: "Maybe we should have won another Super
Bowl, but the problems started when we got an owner that wanted to make
football decisions when he knew nothing about football. He told us who to
sign, who to trade, and who to draft. Like drafting Stan Thomas. I
wanted nothing to do with Stan Thomas, but the owner wanted him, and that's the
way it was." -Mike Ditka on WSCR in 2006

Passing: Jim Harbaugh-The five year veteran
became the first Bear quarterback to start all 16 games in a season since Vince
Evans in 1991. He finished with a respectable 73.7 QB rating, threw
for 3121 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also ran for 338 yards and 2
scores.

Rushing: Neal Anderson- Anderson had his first
"off" year since he became a starter, rushing for just 747 yards and 6
touchdowns. He was limited during the season with a hamstring pull

Receiving: Wendell Davis-Davis had his best professional
season, catching 61 passes for 945 yards and 6 touchdowns. He led the
team both in receptions and yards.

Scoring: Kevin Butler-Butler had a distracting offseason
prior to 1991, but led the team in scoring with 89 points.

Sacks: Richard Dent-McMichael continued to dominate in his
9th season, leading the team with 10.5 sacks, 7 tipped balls and an
interception

Interceptions: Lemuel Stinson-Led the team with four
interceptions. Stinson had been on his way to the Pro Bowl in 1990 before
tearing knee ligaments. He bounced back strong but was not as electric.

1991 Normal Starters

4 QB

35 RB

25 RB

82 WR

87 WR

73 LT

62 LG

63 C

57 RG

78 RT

80 TE

6 K

95 DE

76 DT

72 DT

93 DE

55 LB

50 MLB

51 LB

21 CB

23 SS

20 FS

32 CB

8 P

Jim Harbaugh started all 16 games at quarterback. Neal
Anderson missed three games and only started 13 due to hamstring problems,
backup Mark Green filled in. Brad Muster missed 5, also with hamstring
problems, and James Rouse started in his place. With Jim Covert's
retirement, rookie Stan Thomas started 7 games, but John Wojciechowski played
the majority of the year. The rest of the offensive line was stable, but
aging. On defense, most of the starters remained the same from
1990. From left to right: Offense Jim Harbaugh, Neal
Anderson, Brad Muster, Wendell Davis, Tom Waddle, John Wojciechowski, Mark
Bortz, Jay Hilgenberg, Tom Thayer, Keith Van Horne, Jim Thornton, Kevin
Butler. Defense Richard Dent, Steve McMichael, William
Perry, Trace Armstrong, John Roper, Mike Singletary, Jim Morrissey, Donnell
Woolford, Shaun Gayle, Mark Carrier, Lemuel Stinson, Maury Buford.

#

Pos.

Name

School

Exp.

4

QB

Jim Harbaugh

Michigan

5

6

K

Kevin Butler

Georgia

7

8

P

Maury Buford

Texas Tech

10

10

QB

P.T. Willis

Florida State

2

11

QB

Paul Justin

Arizona State

R

17

P

Chris Gardocki

Clemson

R

20

S

Mark Carrier

USC

2

21

CB

Donnell Woolford

Clemson

3

22

RB

Johnny Bailey

Texas A&I

2

23

S

Shaun Gayle

Ohio State

8

25

RB

Brad Muster

Standford

4

26

DB

John Mangum

Alabama

2

29

WR

Dennis Gentry

Baylor

10

30

RB

James Rouse

Arkansas

2

31

RB

Mark Green

Notre Dame

3

32

CB

Lemuel Stinson

Texas Tech

4

33

RB

Darren Lewis

Texas A&M

R

35

RB

Neal Anderson

Florida

6

36

S

Markus Paul

Syracuse

3

37

DB

Maurice Douglass

Kentucky

6

49

S

David Tate

Colorado

4

50

LB

Mike Singletary

Baylor

11

51

LB

Jim Morrissey

Michigan St.

7

53

LB

Dante Jones

Oklahoma

4

54

LB

Ron Cox

Fresno St

2

55

LB

John Roper

Texas A&M

3

57

G

Tom Thayer

Notre Dame

7

58

LB

Michael Stonebreaker

Notre Dame

R

59

LB

Ron Rivera

Cal

8

60

T

Stan Thomas

Texas

R

62

G

Mark Bortz

Iowa

9

63

C

Jay Hilgenberg

Iowa

11

67

C

Jerry Fontenot

Texas A&M

3

71

DT

James Williams

Cheney St.

R

72

DT

William Perry

Clemson

7

73

T

John Wojciechowski

Michigan

5

75

T

Ron Mattes

Virginia

6

76

DT

Steve McMichael

Texas

12

78

T

Keith Van Horne

USC

11

80

TE

James Thornton

Cal St Flrtn

4

81

WR

Anthony Morgan

Tennessee

R

82

WR

Wendell Davis

LSU

4

83

WR

Eric Wright

Step F Austin

R

84

WR

Ron Morris

SMU

5

85

TE

Keith Jennings

Clemson

1

86

TE

Cap Boso

Illinois

5

87

WR

Tom Waddle

Boston College

3

88

WR

Glen Kozlowski

BYU

5

93

DE

Trace Armstrong

Florida

3

95

DE

Richard Dent

Tenn St.

9

96

DL

Tim Ryan

USC

2

97

DT

Chris Zorich

Notre Dame

R

Da Bears is Born

The 1985 Bears became worldwide phenoms, largely (no pun intended) due to the
emergence of rookie "character" William "Refridgerator" Perry. Perry's luster
had worn somewhat by the late 1980's, but coach Mike Ditka's had not.

In 1988, New York native Robert Smigel first performed a
sketch on stage in Chicago that depicted three Chicago sports fans sitting on a
porch, discussing their teams. In January 1991, prior to the Bears' playoff
loss at New York, the first "Superfans" skit appeared on Saturday Night Live.

Throughout 1991, '92 and even 1997 the parody of Chicago fans
was repeated, giving rise to the almost universally known term "Da Bears". In
'91, the sketches featured the Superfans arguing with oddsmaker Danny Sheridan
over just how badly the Bears would beat the Giants, and later that year had
Michael Jordan at their table talking about "Da Bulls".

During the 1992 season, the Superfans found themselves all
laid up in Halas Memorial Hospital, where Chris Farley's character had a
near-death experience from a heart attack. Finally, when Mike Ditka was fired
the fans wrote a letter to Michael McCaskey, renouncing their allegiance to the
team. (My father literally did this and has never returned, by the way).

The final Superfans sketch aired in 1997. The Superfans mania
was so acute in 1991 that Smigel and actors Chris Farley and George Wendt
appeared on field and in character for the Dallas playoff game.

In April 1991, Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Zorich,
Lombardi Trophy winner and Chicago native, told the media he would pay the
Bears for allowing him to play for them. Just a figure of speech, he said, but
he made no secret of his desire to play for his favorite team with his football
idol Mike Singletary. Coach Mike Ditka developed a soft spot for Zorich and
wanted to select him in the first round. Player personnel boss Bill Tobin and
CEO Michael McCaskey insisted on instead selecting Texas offensive tackle
Stan Thomas. Chicago still got Zorich at the end of the second
round. Ditka said he was happier to have Zorich than #1 overall pick Russell
Maryland, taken by Dallas. While Zorich was an idea citizen, Thomas was known
more for his mouth and lack of work ethic. Following the 1990 Cotton Bowl,
Thomas had declared in the media that Texas would have won the game had "the
other 10 players played as good as me." Ditka has made no secret since his 1992
firing that the Thomas pick was forced on him by McCaskey, who called Thomas
the "last of the big men." Ditka called Thomas a "wothless bum." The tackle
would be victimized in a drive-by shooting in 1992, cut by the Bears in '93,
out of football by '94, and accused of sexual assault in 2004. The pick was
made for depth and development, but after Pro Bowl tackle Jim Covert was
forced to retire with a ruptured disk in his back, Thomas would be
forced to start in his rookie season. Following countless false start and
holding penalties, he was benched for veteran John Wojciechowski. The Bears
even traded a 1992 eighth-round draft pick to the New York Jets for backup
tackle Ron Mattes, who did not play. Speaking of trades, in the offseason
Chicago traded cornerback Vestee Jackson to Miami for tight
end/defensive lineman Eric Kumerow, a former first round pick. Kumerow was also
a Chicago-area native, and ruptured his achilles tendon in his first Bears
action. He was lost for the season and never would play a down for the Bears.
That injury occurred in the Bears' "American Bowl" game against
the San Francisco 49ers in Berlin, Germany. Ditka was asked at
a press conference if he felt like he was an ambassador of the NFL. His
response? "If I am an ambassador of goodwill for the world and for the galaxy
and for the heavens, I enjoy that role. That is why I was put here. Many years
ago, somebody said that in August of the year 1991 AD, Mike Ditka is going to
be in Berlin. And I am here. But I'm still looking for the guy who said it."
Ditka then went on to express disdain for the cosmopolitan city of San
Francisco. Fifth-year veteran Ron Morris was expected to start
the season opposite Wendell Davis, but a knee injury landed him on injured
reserve for much of the season. Rookie Anthony Morgan started
the season opener but was also injured. This left the door open for Tom
Waddle, who had been trying to stick with the team since 1989 but
had been cut multiple times. Waddle's acrobatic touchdown reception in the
opener began his trip as a local celebrity. Waddle also caught the game-winning
touchdown pass against New Orleans, caught 8 passes for 102 yards against the
Jets, and set a Bears playoff record with 9 receptions for 104 yards against
Dallas. Offensive coordinator Greg Landry had designed a new
passing offense to be implemented in 1990, but due to a long bout with viral
incephelitis the implementation was scaled back. Landry was back calling all
plays in 1991 and their passing offense rose to be ranked 13th in the NFL as
opposed to 28th in 1990. Their rushing ranking dropped from 2nd to 9th. The
Bears started the season with a stellar 9-2 record, but
finished 2-3, culminating in a 52-14 humiliation on Monday Night Football at
San Francisco. During the game Detroit Lion coach Wayne Fontes was pictured
with some of his players watching the game on television, smoking cigars and
rubbing it in. The Lions won the NFC Central due to the Bears loss. Following
the playoff loss to Dallas, Ditka remarked to the media that perhaps he was
playing with a group of overachieving players lacking talent, a
comment that did not sit well with the team.

The Dallas Cowboys
continue to reap the harvest that the Minnesota Vikings sowed on the Herschel
Walker trade, selecting several more players that would key future Super Bowl
wins. After peaking in 1990 with a 12-4 record, the LA Raiders begin a slow
slide by selecting QB Todd Marinovich in the first round. The highly touted
Marinovich became a complete bust in the league. The Atlanta Falcons draft QB
Brett Favre from Southern Mississippi in the second round, thwarting NY Jets'
personnel man Ron Wolf's last minute attempt to trade up for the signalcaller.
Favre never sees the field in Atlanta as coach Jerry Glanville thinks too
highly of incumbent starter Chris Miller. The Detroit Lions surprise the league
with a 12-4 record, winning the NFC Central and advancing to the NFC
Championship game. The NFC wildcard round showed the changing of the times,
where the young Dallas Cowboys knocked off the aging and slow Bears. Dallas
lost in Detroit the following week. Washington beat the Lions, and Buffalo beat
Denver in the conference championship games. Washington defeated Buffalo 37-24
in Super Bowl 26.